Tapering off of Prednisone

Definitely not young John! But the skin effect is a strange sort of wrinkling. One of my nurses father has the same effect so it is primarily down to the Prednisone. Certainly be interested in other experiences. I did read somewhere that a cream containing urea will actually hydrate to some extent, as opposed to most creams which seem only to slow down moisture loss due to the barrier they provide. Can't find the reference though I'm afraid.

Hi. Ive just joined this forum. Im 74, man, live in New Zealand. I experience pain from arthritis in a hip and lower back. The pain is ever-present, and been gradually getting worse over about 35 years. My doctor prescribed Prednisone at 2.5mg/day for an allergy (hay fever). I am amazed that it has also reduced the chronic pain, by about 50% - as well as making me feel much more energetic. There are no adverse effects apparent.
So, of course I am thinking how it would improve my life if I could feel like that all the time. This discussion group has been mainly about withdrawing from Prednisone, which is interesting to me. But I would love to hear from anyone who knows about using Prednisone long term, indefinitely, at the very low dose of 2.5mg. Thanks. Rex.

Hello @epvb and welcome to Mayo Connect. Thanks for posting this discussion on Prednisone. I'm sure that others will reply in the near future. A few more details might be helpful to our Mayo Community in responding to your post. For example, how long have you been taking the Prednisone and what was it being used for? Please share as you are comfortable. We look forward to getting to know you better! Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. Teresa

I am on 5mg, for the last 2 weeks, and plan to go down to 4 to-morrow, however, after reading experiences of other people, I may have to go up again. I am preparing myself, hoping for the best, but will not be devastated by the worst. Some people have had to take the drug for many years. So far I am lucky to have to have endured it for 3.5 months. Good Luck to you !

I am on 5mg, for the last 2 weeks, and plan to go down to 4 to-morrow, however, after reading experiences of other people, I may have to go up again. I am preparing myself, hoping for the best, but will not be devastated by the worst. Some people have had to take the drug for many years. So far I am lucky to have to have endured it for 3.5 months. Good Luck to you !

3.5 months and so low a dose already. Do you have some morning pain and stiffness? I do.

Yes, I do, also some imbalance. While my coffee is brewing in the French press and the toast browning, I keep moving around. I gradually become more limber. After watching a little of c=span while breakfasting. I get up and move around again, sometimes doing a few flexibility exercises, very mild ones. If I sit too long I become stiff again, so must monitor that. To-morrow I am going down to 4 mg of prednisone. Hopefully it will work. 🙂

@epvb, I also want to welcome you to Mayo Connect. As of Dec.9, 2016, I am successfully off prednisone!! So I am going to tell you in all honesty, "I feel your pain".
I was on 5 mg daily for 7 years. In April I was tapered to half dose (2.5 mg) and my body was aarghhh! - achy, nausea, poor sleep, tired, grouchy, headaches. This surprised me because of the small dosage. After about 10 days I experiences a slight improvement. And after a month I was feeling okay. I did take some Tylenol to relieve the discomfort.
Then, when I was tapered to 0 mg, the symptoms returned:-( But at that time some other medical issues complicated things for me, and I was instructed to resume the 2.5 mg dosage. Finally in early Nov.2016, I was ready to taper again. This time I was advised to try the every other day approach. This worked well for me. After 6 weeks I quit completely.
I think that some people might just need longer for their body to adjust. You might want to talk to your doctor. I want to say that my taper was done with my medical team approval, and my routine labs were carried out to monitor my particular health concerns.

Here is what Mayo Clinic has to say about coming off prednisone.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/prednisone-withdrawal/expert-answers/faq-20057923
I hope I have been able to give you some answers. Let me know how you are doing.
Rosemary

Rosemary: That was wonderful advice you gave epvb. Thank you so much as it helps me also. And I am sure others. My heart goes out to all other suffers of Autoimmune illness.

Rosemary’s post was so helpful and gives hope. I’m tapering down from 20mg ... over three months I am now at 8mgs. Told the rheumatologist that I wanted to hasten the tapering and she said OK, fortnightly until you reach 7mg, which will be next Tuesday. After that she wants me to go four weekly tapering, 1mg at a time. Just wondering what Rosemary’s condition was, are we talking PMR, which is my condition.